Machine for fixing lids to packages for moist wipes, tissues or the like

ABSTRACT

A machine for fixing lids to packages for moist wipes, tissues or the like, comprising, on a supporting structure, elements for the advancement of enclosures for packages, a lid application unit, adhesive distribution elements and elements for feeding the lids, the application unit being arranged below the advancement elements so as to apply the lids from below.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine which is particularlybut not exclusively useful for fixing lids to packages for moist wipes,tissues or the like.

[0002] It is known that there is increasing market demand for moistwipes, tissues or the like arranged in packages which allow theirselective and rapid extraction.

[0003] In particular, moist wipes and tissues or the like are currentlycontained in packages provided with suitable openings which, in the bestcases, are associated with lids in order to ensure effective opening andclosure.

[0004] In particular, the closure must ensure tightness against the lossof moisture so as to avoid the evaporation of the liquid (usuallyaqueous solutions) with which the tissues are impregnated; any loss ofmoisture thereof would in fact severely compromise their functionality,making them in practice ineffective for the uses for which they areparticularly appreciated (for example for cleaning babies, removingcosmetic products, et cetera).

[0005] It should also be noted that the packages are substantiallyformed by enclosures constituted by folded and heat-sealed plastic filmsin which pre-scoring is provided to facilitate their opening; lids,substantially constituted by a hinged door fixed to a supporting frame,are glued at the pre-scoring.

[0006] Machines for fixing the lids to the packages are currentlycommercially available for automating the application of the lids.

[0007] These machines comprise, on a supporting structure, means for theadvancement of the enclosures, a lid application unit, adhesivedistribution means and lid feeding means.

[0008] In particular, in currently commercially available machines thelids are attached before packaging, but this compromises an effectiveexecution of the subsequent processes.

[0009] In other cases, the lid is applied so that the wipes or tissuesare already packaged from above.

[0010] In practice, the lid is arranged substantially at the oppositeside of the heat-seal, which necessarily has to be arranged downward.

[0011] Placing the heat-seal downward means that drops may fall from thewipes, entailing the danger that some regions may not be adequatelyheat-sealed hermetically, thus compromising the preservation over timeof the moisture inside the package.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The aim of the present invention is to provide a machine,particularly for fixing lids to packages for moist wipes, tissues or thelike, which solves the above-noted drawbacks of conventional machinesand in particular allows to apply lids even to wipes or tissues whichare already packaged while avoiding any possible loss of moisture whichmight compromise the functionality of the wipes or tissues.

[0013] Within this aim, an important object of the present invention isto provide a machine which is highly flexible in terms of application,since it is able to manage various package types and sizes.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machinewhich allows solid and safe application of the lid to the packagewithout entailing the risk of damaging or deforming it.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machinewhich can be advantageously integrated in larger production lines whichcomprise the entire process for the production of packaged wipes ortissues.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a machinewhich can be manufactured with known technologies and equipment.

[0017] This aim and these and other objects which will become betterapparent hereinafter are achieved by a machine for fixing lids topackages for moist wipes, tissues or the like, characterized in that itcomprises, on a supporting structure, means for the advancement ofenclosures constituting packages, a lid application unit, adhesivedistribution means and means for feeding said lids, said applicationunit being arranged below said advancement means so as to apply saidlids from below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Further characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill become better apparent from the following detailed description oftwo embodiments thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitativeexample in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0019]FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine according to theinvention;

[0020]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of part of the machine of FIG. 1;

[0021]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a package which can be processedby the machine of FIG. 1;

[0022]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another detail of the machine ofFIG. 1;

[0023]FIGS. 5 and 6 are, respectively, a perspective view and asectional view of a same detail of the machine of FIG. 1;

[0024]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a different embodiment of themachine of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] With particular reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a machine particularlyfor fixing lids to packages for moist wipes, tissues or the like,according to the invention, is generally designated by the referencenumeral 10.

[0026] The machine 10 is particularly suitable for applying lids,designated by the reference numeral 11, to packages 12 provided by meansof an enclosure 13 constituted by heat-sealed plastic film.

[0027] More specifically, in this case the lids 11 are applied to acontinuous film 13 a which is then cut and heat-sealed so as to form theenclosure 13 of the packages 12.

[0028] The machine 10 comprises, on a supporting structure 14, means forthe continuous advancement of the film 13 a for the packages 12, whichare generally designated by the reference numeral 15; a lid applicationunit, generally designated by the reference numeral 16; adhesivedistribution means, generally designated by the reference numeral 17;and means for feeding the lids 11, generally designated by the referencenumeral 18.

[0029] In particular, in the machine 10 the application unit 16 isarranged below the advancement means 15 so as to apply the lids 11 frombelow.

[0030] The application unit 16 comprises carousel-type movement means 19which form a circuit which lies on a substantially vertical plane for aplurality of conveyors, each generally designated by the referencenumeral 20, for the lids 11.

[0031] Each conveyor 20 comprises, on a supporting block 21 which isfixed to the movement means 19 (see FIG. 1), grip actuation means 22which are in turn associated with activation/deactivation control means23 adapted to determine two states for the actuation means 22: a gripstate, in which they lock a corresponding advancing lid 11, and arelease state, in which they disengage the lid 11 from the grip.

[0032] The actuation means 22 are of the sucker type and are associatedwith suction means 24 and with contrast pusher springs 25, which in thiscase are helical.

[0033] The actuation means 23 are of the cam type and are constituted byan articulated arm 26 which is associated with the corresponding block21 and has, at its free end, a wheel 27 (see FIG. 4) which is adapted tomate rotationally with corresponding shaped elements.

[0034] In particular, the shaped elements are two in number, aredesignated by the reference numerals 28 and 29 respectively, and arearranged in the regions of the path of the movement means 19 in whichthe actuation means 22 are in the release step.

[0035] In particular, the elements 28 and 29 are constituted, in thiscase, by mutually parallel shaped bars.

[0036] The movement means 19, in this embodiment, have a path whichpartly overlies said adhesive distribution means 17 in order to allowthe application of said adhesive to the lid 11 in transit.

[0037] In particular, the movement means 19 are in this case of thechain type.

[0038] The adhesive distribution means 17 are constituted by a heatedcontainer 30 which contains the adhesive in the melted state and inwhich a shaped cylinder 31 is pivoted and motorized; the cylinder 31 isprovided with a cavity 32 whose surface rotationally coincides with thesupporting frame of a corresponding lid 11.

[0039] In particular, the cylinder 31 is moved in step with the movementof the blocks 21.

[0040] In this embodiment, the advancement means 15 are of the belttype, but with particular reference to FIG. 7 a different embodiment hastwo first spaced and aligned belts 33 which are connected in abridge-like fashion by a pair of second belts 34 which are arranged soas to form an advancement channel for the packages 12, which are lockedlaterally thereby by friction.

[0041] The lid feeding means 18 are, also in this case, of the belt typeand lie below the application unit 16.

[0042] In particular, the embodiment of FIG. 7 relates to thepossibility to effectively apply the lids 11 also to packages 12 whichare already formed and filled with wipes or tissues.

[0043] In practice, operation is as follows.

[0044] The application unit 16, as it turns, conveys along asubstantially annular closed path the blocks 21 so that they pass atvarious stations which correspond to a matching number of steps of theprocess of the machine 10.

[0045] More specifically, considering an individual conveyor 20, theconveyor passes above the lid feeding means 18 where the downward slopeof the shape of the corresponding shaped element 28 allows reactivationof the actuation means 22 which block a corresponding lid 11 by suction.

[0046] Further advancement of the device 20 causes the fixed lid 11 topass over the cylinder 31, which by rotating in step applies theadhesive to the rim of the lid 11 being processed.

[0047] Further advancement places the device 20 at the underlying partof the package 12, where the appropriately provided element 29determines release by the actuation means 22.

[0048] In practice it has been observed that the present invention hasachieved the intended aim and objects.

[0049] In particular, it should be noted that the overall structure ofthe machine according to the invention allows easy and safe applicationof the lids in various application conditions and allows in particularto keep the heat-seals of the enclosure on the upper part so as toensure better retention of the moisture inside the enclosure.

[0050] It should also be noted that the machine according to theinvention can equally apply the lids to enclosures which are alreadypreset so as to form the corresponding package and to enclosures whichare still open or on continuous film which is cut and heat-sealed toform the enclosure only at a later stage.

[0051] It should also be noted that all this has been achieved with goodconstructive simplicity, which ensures an overall structural solidity ofthe machine which is suitable even for long and heavy duty cycles.

[0052] It should also be noted that the machine according to theinvention can be easily integrated in larger production lines whichprovide for the entire production cycle of wipes and packages.

[0053] The present invention is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventiveconcept.

[0054] The technical details may be replaced with other technicallyequivalent elements.

[0055] The materials and the dimensions may be any according torequirements.

What is claimed is:
 1. A machine for fixing lids to packages for moistwipes, tissues or the like, comprising on a supporting structure, meansfor the advancement of enclosures constituting packages, a lidapplication unit, adhesive distribution means and means for feeding saidlids, said application unit being arranged below said advancement meansso as to apply said lids from below.
 2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein said application unit comprises carousel-type movement meanswhich form a circuit which lies on a substantially vertical plane for aplurality of conveyors for said lids.
 3. The machine according to claim2 , wherein each one of said conveyors comprises, on a supporting blockwhich is fixed to said movement means, grip actuation means which are inturn associated with activation/deactivation control means adapted todetermine two states for said actuation means, a grip state, in whichsaid grip actuation means lock a corresponding advancing lid, and arelease state in which said lid is released.
 4. The machine according toclaim 3 , wherein said grip actuation means are normally in the gripstate.
 5. The machine according to claim 3 , wherein said grip actuationmeans are of a type with a sucker associated with suction means.
 6. Themachine according to claim 1 , further comprising contrast pushersprings.
 7. The machine according to claim 3 , wherein said gripactuation means are of a cam type.
 8. The machine according to claim 3 ,wherein said grip actuation means comprise an arm which is articulatedto a corresponding block and has, at a free end thereof, a wheel whichis adapted to mate rotationally with corresponding shaped elements. 9.The machine according to claim 8 , wherein said shaped elements arearranged in regions of a path of said movement means in which saidactuators are in the release state.
 10. The machine according to claim 8, wherein said shaped elements are constituted by a corresponding numberof shaped bars.
 11. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein saidmovement means have paths which partially lie above said adhesivedistribution means so as to allow application of said adhesive to thelids in transit.
 12. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein saidmovement means are of a chain type.
 13. The machine according to claim 2, wherein said adhesive distribution means comprise a heated containerwhich contains adhesive in a melted state and in which a shaped cylinderis pivoted and motorized, said cylinder being provided with a cavityhaving a surface that rotationally coincides with a supporting frame ofa corresponding lid.
 14. The machine according to claim 13 , whereinsaid cylinder is moved in step with said conveyors.
 15. The machineaccording to claim 1 , wherein said advancement means are of a belttype.
 16. The machine according to claim 1 , wherein said advancementmeans comprise two first belts which are spaced and aligned and areconnected in a bridge-like fashion by a pair of second belts which faceeach other and are arranged so as to form a conveyance channel for thepackages which are locked laterally thereby by friction.
 17. The machineaccording to claim 1 , wherein said lid feeding means are of a belt typeand lie below said application unit.